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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

L. 1). RAILSBAOK. ROTARY DISK PLOW.

No. 505,777. Patented Sept. 26, 1893.

(No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheetf2. L. D. RAILSBAOK. ROTARY DISK PLOW Patented Sept. 26, 1893.

INVENTOH WITNESSES.

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PATENT Brion.

LAFAYETTE D. RAILSBAOK, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

ROTARY-DISK PLOW.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent- N 0. 505,777, dated September 26,1893.

Application filed August 19. 1893.

tary disk plow so far devised has been practically useful.

The object of this invention is to make a rotary disk plow that is thoroughly practical for the use of any farmer and which will enable him with one team to do double the amount of plowing he has been doing with the old share plow, without increasing the draft.

One feature of my invention consists in devising a means of lifting the plow disks when desired. It is necessary to lift the plow disks in turning corners and in traveling while not plowing. The plows heretofore used of this character were not provided with means of lifting the disks out of the land, or if so, such means were very awkward and inconvenient to operate. I accomplish this object by pivoting the beam to the plow frame or butt end of the tongue, and providing a hand lever so connected with the beam that when the lever is thrown forward it will lift the plow disks. Because of the great weight of the plow disks I provide a weight on the outer end of the lever to counterbalance the weight of the plow disks and assist the operator in throwing the lever forward. This weight also holds the lever down when thrown forward, and thus automatically retains the disks in an elevated position. The main function of this weight, however, is to take the weight of the disks off the tongue when the former are raised out of the ground. I also form the heel of the hand lever so that it will bear on and hold down the beam when the hand lever'is vertical, and provide a means of holding such lever heel down firmly on the beam, as it is very important to hold the plow disks into Serial No. 483,558. (No model.)

the ground and to their work, and to provide a very positive mechanism to accomplish this object.

Another feature of my invention consists in so connecting the plow frame or butt of the tongue and the axle of the carriage that the plow frame to which the beam is secured may be readily and easily adjusted, for the purpose of adjusting the depth of the out of the plow. The means I have employed for this purpose consists of a screw king bolt extending through the axle and the frame below. Another feature of my-invention consists in such a construction of the axle as will enable me to readily adjust its length by moving out or in the spindles on which the wheels are mounted.

Another feature of my invention consists in so forming the beam that when one disk is used it may be mounted close to the beam, thus throwing thestrain on the beam instead of-on along disk axle,and in so doublycurving such beam that asecond disk maybe mounted on the same beam close to the beam, yet far enough from the other disk to cut a reasonably wide fallow, the two disks being mounted substantially equally distant from the line of draft, which is between them, and also in so constructing the boxings in which the axles of the disks are mounted that I can readily adjust the disks laterally or alter the angle at which they are set.

The exact nature of the formin which I have embodied my invention will appear from the following description and the drawings forming a part hereof.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my plow looking at it from the land side while it is in operation, the tongue being broken away. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, excepting that the seat is shown in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the axle, showing the connection of the plow frame to it. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the outer end of the plow beam, showing the construction of the boxings in which the disks are mounted.

1 is a tongue, 2 the plow beam, and 3 What I shall call here the plow frame, connecting the tongue and beam. This frame may be integral with the tongue constituting its butt end, or it may be a separate frame, as shown in the drawings herein, having the tongue the bolt 16.

bolted into it, as seen in Fig. 2. This frame 3, or inner end of the tongue as the case may be, fits between two downwardly extending jaws 4 of the axle 5 whichis supported by the land wheel 6 and the staggered furrow wheel 7.

8 is a bed plate sunk in the upper surface of the axle 5 and through which extends the screw king-bolt 9 down through the frame 3 or tongue. A hand wheel 10 is rigidly mounted on the screw bolt 9 to enable the operator readily to turn the screw bolt and lift the frame 3 or tongue up or push it down. The object of the construction just described is to regulate the depth of cut of the plow disks and it can be done with this means very readily by the plowman withoutleaving the seat 11.

In order that the connection between the axle 5 and frame 3 or tongue may be strong, flanges or cleats 12 are so provided on each side of the frame, that they will fit snugly against the jaws 4 of the axle and furnish a firm guide way for the same.

The furrow wheelhere shown is a staggered one,but that is not considered to be a necessary form, as a straight wheel may be so formed as to accomplish the same purpose. The function of this wheel is to prevent the plow from running into theland, as the disks have a tendency to do that. Any form of wheel,therefore, which will prevent the disks from running into the land, whether it be a staggered or a straight wheel, is all that is necessary in my plow. I show here a skeleton staggered wheel instead of a solid one, but either form may be used. It is desirable to have this wheel, as well as the land wheel, sufficiently heavy to hold the disks down to their work.

The furrow wheel in my plow is set sulficiently in front of the plow disks so that the fallow as it is turned over may not touch the furrow wheel or be interfered with by it. It is especially desirable that the fallow should not touch the rear of the furrow wheel, because such wheel would tend to prevent the turning of the fallow by lifting up the outer edge of the fallow. This is especially notice able in plowing sod.

In order to adjust the length of the axle when desired, I mount my furrow and land wheels on spindles 13, having square ends fitting within square recesses in the ends of the axle tree. A bolt 14 is passed through the spindle and the longitudinal slot at 15 in the axle tree. When it is desired to set one of the wheels out or in,the nut on the bolt 14 is loosened, the spindle shifted to its desired position, and the nut is screwed down tightly, clamping the spindle and axle together.

The disks are mounted on the outer or rear end of the beam 2. The inner end of this beam is pivoted to the frame 3 or tongue by I divide the inner end of the beam so that its arms will embrace the rear end of the frame 3 or tongue. The beam may be secured to the frame or tongue in any other manner which will enable the beam to be turned or lifted up at its outer end. The upper corners 17 of the inner end of the beam are rounded to prevent them from contacting with the upwardly extending arrnslS, which are secured to the frame 3 or tongue or form an integral part thereof.

19 isahand lever extending vertically when the plow is at work and pivoted near its lower end in the arms 18, by the pivot pin 20.

21 is a brace or link pivoted at one end to the lever 19 above its pivotal connection and at the other end to the beam 2 near its outer end. The function of this lever and brace or link is to enable the operator to lift the disks out of the ground when turning corners or traveling without plowing. He does this by pushing the hand lever 19 forward. To assist him in throwing the lever 19 forward and to counterbalance the great weight of the plow disks, I provide a weight 22 suspended from the forward end of an arm 23 that is rigidly secured to the upper end of the lever 19. as will throw the weight somewhat to the front of the pivotal connection'of the lever 19, but not enough to enable the weight 22 to overcome the weight of the disks. But when the lever is thrown forward to its limit of movement, the weight 22 should be heavy enough to overcome the weight of the disks and hold the lever 19 down without other assistance, and thus by itself hold the disks out of contact with the ground and counterbalance their weight, thus preventing the tongue from tipping up. When it is desired to throw the disks into theground, the operator reaches down and grasps the handle 24 and by very slight exertion draws the lever 19 back to its vertical position. It will thus be seen that I have devised a means of raising and lowering the disks which is simple, efficient and very easy to operate. The weight contributes verymaterially to the ease of this operation as it does most of the work in elevating or lowering the disks.

Since there is a great upward pressure to the plow disks while they are plowing, it is necessary to hold the beam 2 firmly down in place. To do this I have provided the lever 19 with an enlarged lower end or heel 25, whose lower edge is horizontal and adapted to fit down squarely on the upper surface of the beam 2. 1

At 26 I provide a shoulder over which fits a stirrup 27 pivoted at 28 to the arms 18 which are attached to and form a part of the frame 3 or tongue. This stirrup 27 holds the heel 25 squarely against the frame 3 and the beam 2.

In order to disengage the stirrup 27 from v the shoulder 26 of the lever 19 when it is desired to lift the disks, I provide a link 29 connected with the stirrup 27 and extending to the top of the hand lever 19 where it is connected to a small bent lever 30 pivoted to the main lever 19 and controlled by the spring 31. When the operator places his hand at The length of this arm 23 must be such the top of the lever 19 to throw the plow out of the ground he naturally pushes against the small bent lever 30 which raises the stirrup out of its seat and allows the lever 19 to turn on its pivot. As thelever 19 is thrown forward the stirrup 27 moves along the cut out portion at 32 of the lever 19 and does not bind on such lever. WVhen the lever 19 is drawn back into a vertical position ready for work the spring 31 throws the stirrup over the shoulder 26 which again locks the heel25 down on the beam 2. The beam 2 is so curved as to extend in between the two disks 33 and 34. without interfering with the disks and yet have the bearings in which the disks are carried substantially in a direct line with the draft. The disks are made in the ordinary dished form and set at about the angle with the line of draft that is shown in Fig. 2, that is, at such an angle as will not draw the furrow wheel out of the furrow and yet willturn the fallow. formed as shown in Fig. 2, in order that the one beam may carry two disks about ten inches apart, whereby they will be enabled to do the work of two plows and yet have both bearings in which the disk axles are mounted in line with the draft. The beam 2 may be further extended to carry additional disks if desired. The axles of the disks are rigidly connected with them and operate in the boxings 35, shown in Fig. 4, and are held in such boxings by the nuts 36. The boxings 35 fit in seats in the beam 2, as shown in Fig. 4, where they are bolted to the beam by the bolts 37. These bolts extend through slots at 38 in the beam. The purpose of these slots is to enable the boxings 35 to be laterally adjusted. The seats in the beam for the boxings 35 are made enough larger than the boxings that the latter can be turned somewhat horizontally one way or the other and clamped in that turned position by the bolts 37. When the boxing is thus turned and clamped of course it alters the angle at which the disk is set. By this construction of the boxings and the means of connecting them with the beam, one is enabled to throw the disks farther apart to cut a wider fallow or to adjust the angle to the line of draft at which the disks run.

From the foregoing description and the drawings herewith, it will appear that I have devised a simple form of rotary disk plow, yet one which is easy to handle, whether the plowman desires to throw the plow out of the ground or to turn corners or to cut a wider fallow or otherwise adjust any part of the mechanism as may be, needed or desired.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a rotary disk plow, or beam on which the plow disks are carried pivoted to the plow frame, a hand lever pivoted to such frame and provided at its lower end with a bracing heel adapted to bear on and hold down the beam, and means of holding such bracing The outer end of the beam 2 is heel down on such beam, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a rotary disk plow, a beam on which the plow disks are carried pivoted to the plow frame, a hand lever pivoted to such frame and provided at its lower end with a bracing heel adapted to bear on and hold down the beam, and a stirrup pivoted to the frame and so embracing the heel of the lever as to hold 7 4. In a rotary disk plow, a beam on which the plow disks are carried pivoted to the plow frame, a hand lever pivoted to such frame and provided at its lower end with a bracing heel adapted to bear on and hold down the beam, a brace extending fromsuch hand lever to the beam, and means of looking such hand lever in place so that it will hold down the beam, substantially as shown and described.

5. A rotary disk plow comprising a carriage, a plow frame connected therewith, a beam pivoted to such frame, dish shaped disks mounted to such beam, a hand lever pivoted to the frame provided with a heel adapted to bear down on the beam, and means of holding the heel of such hand lever down on such beam, substantially as shown and do scribed.

6. A rotary disk plow comprising a car-- riage,'a plow frame connected therewith, a beam pivoted to such frame, dish shaped disks mounted to such beam, a hand lever pivoted to the frame provided with a heel adapted to bear down on the beam, a brace extending from such lever to the beam, and means of holding such lever in a fixed position when desired, substantially as shown and described.

7. A rotary disk plow comprising a carriage, a plow frame connected therewith, a beam pivoted to such frame, dish shaped disks mounted to such beam, a hand lever pivoted to the frame provided with a heel adapted to bear down on the beam, a weight attached to the outer end of such hand lever, a pivoted brace extending from such lever to such beam, a stirrup pivoted to such frame and embracing the heel of such lever, and means of throwing such stirrup into or out of engagement with the heel of such lever, substantially as shown and described.

8. In a rotary disk plow, an axle supported on wheels and provided with vertical jaws, a frame to which the plow beam is secured fitting between such jaws, and a screw king described.

10. A rotary disk plow comprising an axle provided with vertical jaws, a land wheel and a staggered furrow wheel mounted on such axle, a beam, plow disks mounted on such beam, a frame to which the beam is secured fitting between the jaws on the axle and provided with bracing flanges on each side of such jaws, and a screw king bolt coupling such frame and axle and provided with means of turning such screw bolt, substantially as shown and described.

11. A rotary disk plow comprising a land wheel and a furrow wheel, an axle connecting them whose ends are provided with an angular recess and a slot in the wall of such recess, spindles with angular ends adapted to fit in the recess in the axle tree, bolts extending through such spindle and slot in the axle tree, a plow frame secured to such axle, a beam pivoted to the frame, and plow disks mounted on the outer end of such beam, substantially as shown and described.

12. In a rotary disk plow, a beam provided with a recess and also transverse slots, a boxing for the disk axle adaptedto fit in such recess, and bolts extending through such boxing and slots whereby the boxing may be adjusted laterally, substantially as shown and described.

13. In a rotary disk plow, a beam .provided with a recess and also transverse slots, a boxing for the disk axle smaller than such recess, and bolts extending through such boxing and slots whereby the boxing can be adjusted laterally or horizontally,substantially as shown and described.

14. In a rotary disk plow, abeam so; curved that the bearings of the plow disks will be in line with the draft, and provided at us outer end with transverse slots and recesses substantially as shown, boxings for the disk axle adapted to fit loosely in such seats, and bolts extending through such boxings and slots whereby the boxings may be adjusted laterally and horizontally, substantially as shown and described.

15. A rotary disk plow comprising'a-furrow and land wheel, a longitudinally adjustable axle connecting them, a plow frame so coupled with such axle that it can be vertically adjusted, a beam pivoted to the plow frame and so curved that the bearings of the plow disks will be in line with the draft, disks mounted'in boxings in such beam, the boxings so secured to such beam that they may be vertically and horizontally adjustable, a hand lever pivoted to the plow frame, a brace extending from the lever to the beam and adapted to hold the beam down when the lever' is vertical, means of locking the lever 1n a vertical position, and a weight attached to the outer end of the hand lever of such size as to counterbalance the weight of the plow disks -when'they are raised, substantially as shown and described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 16th day of August, 1893.

LAFAYETTE D. RAILSBAOK.

Witnesses:

V. H. LOCKWOOD, HENRY'COE. 

